What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
July 4, 2024 Recap
President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who congratulated the U.S. on Independence Day and thanked Biden for supporting Israel's security. They discussed finalizing a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages, which the UN and global leaders supported. Netanyahu agreed to have Israeli negotiators work with U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security, especially against threats from Iranian-backed groups. They also noted an upcoming meeting between their national security teams on July 15.
The United States, through NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson, welcomed a two-week humanitarian truce in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), effective from July 5 to July 19. This truce aims to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in North Kivu, where nearly 3 million internally displaced people (IDP) reside, and recent fighting has displaced over 100,000 more. The truce will allow the return of displaced individuals and provide humanitarian workers access to vulnerable populations. This development follows confidence-building measures from DNI Avril Haines' visits to the DRC and Rwanda. The DRC and Rwanda support the truce to ease suffering and de-escalate tensions. The U.S. will monitor activities during the truce using its intelligence and diplomatic resources.
During a White House barbecue with military service members and their families, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden highlighted the significance of Joining Forces, her White House initiative supporting military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors. She acknowledged the USO's role in these efforts.
Dr. Biden shared a personal story about her father, who enlisted in World War II at 17 with his mother's reluctant permission, illustrating the difficult choices military families make. She related this to her experience with her son Beau's service in the Delaware Army National Guard and deployment to Iraq.
Addressing the attendees, Dr. Biden honored their service and sacrifices, emphasizing their crucial role in enabling the country's celebrations of freedom and democracy.
President Biden took to the stage and expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices of military members and their families. He acknowledged that less than 1% of the American population serves in the military to protect the rest. Emphasizing the government’s sacred duty, he stressed the importance of preparing those sent into harm's way and caring for them and their families when they return.
President Biden reminded the audience of America's unique foundation, built on equality rather than ethnicity or geography. He highlighted the nation's ongoing commitment to its founding principles and the significance of striving to live up to them fully. Reflecting on his recent visit to Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, he shared his experiences meeting veterans and touring historic battle sites, reinforcing that all military service members are genuine heroes.
The President urged Americans to stand united for freedom and democracy, asserting that the U.S. has consistently emerged stronger from every crisis. He praised the U.S. military as the finest fighting force in history, emphasizing its unparalleled power, decency, and generosity. Closing his remarks, President Biden expressed immense pride in being the Commander-in-Chief, wished everyone a happy 4th of July, and invoked blessings for the troops.
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Vice President Harris, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and President Biden kick off the 4th of July Celebration at The White House
